Pasini bests Oliveira to take first pole since 2007

Veteran Italian lays down a marker and stays ahead in Brno

Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) brought an almost ten year pole position drought to an end in qualifying at Brno, setting a fast lap early on and holding on at the top until the end – meaning he will start his 200th race from P1. Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira took a close second, with Championship leader Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completing the front row.

Luca Marini (Forward Racing) had a good session for seventh, ahead of Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) in P8 and Speed Up Racing’s Simone Corsi in ninth. Corsi was involved in an incident in the session with Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing) as contact sent the Swiss rider off.